Stroke-length adjustment for walking beams



Patented July 13, 1926.

unirse srar HARRY A. CLARK, 0F WCI-IITA FALLS, TEXAS.

,STROKE-LENGTH ADJUSTMENT FOR WALKING BEANS.

Application filed March 19, 1926.` Serial No. 96,046.

This invention relates to the art of drilling wells and more particularly to an iniprovement in the spudding attachment of combination drilling and clean-out machines, the primary object being to provide through a novel arrangement, a means to alter the length of stroke of such an attachment to obtain results of added efliciency when working in mud and other formations of varied construction.

The invention further comprehends in an attachment such as designated above, an arrangement by which additional sets of jars may be utilized, due to the eXtra long stroke available, for spudding, cleaning out and numerous other purposes.

TWith these and other novel objects and n advantages in view the invention has particular reference to certain features of construction aiid assembly of parts by which said objects are attained and which will beA manifested in the course of the following detail description and illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein:

' Figure 1 represents an elevational view of an improved, portable drilling and clean-out machine upon which the invention is especially applicable. Y

Figure 2 represents a detail view of the main power wheel, depicting the adjustable relationship of the spudding arm pitman and the walking beam pitman.

Figure 3 is a similar View in cross-section, and

Figure 4 represents a pair of plates arranged to be situated on opposing sides of the spudding arm pitman at the point of pivotal engagement of the walking beam pitman.

In referring more in detail to the drawings, particular attention is directed to the Figure 1, in-which is illustrated a specially constructed combination machine, equipped with facilities for general use in the oil field. The machine is provided with a collapsible mast 1, a walking beam 2 pivotally disposed upon the top of the upright 3, likewise a set of spudding arms 4, having pivotal engagement with a shaft 5 at the rear of the machine frame. j

Spudding and cleaning ont operations have hereto been severely handicapped through the absence of proper stroke adjustments, and while adjustments may be made in the stroke, these adjustments are usually The spudding arms d are provided with a connection to the power wheel 6 of` the machine-,Yin the form of a pitman 7. This pitman as apparent in Figure 1, is connected to a crank arm 8 which in turnis secured to and arranged to be rotated by the said wheel 6 and is provided with a series of apertures 9 for the vadjustment of the pivotal engagement of the arm 7 along the radius of the wheel. The pitman 7 is further provided with a series of alined apertures 10 whose ,f purpose will presently be disclosed.

TheV walking beam pitman 11 is pivotally suspended where its lower end may `be secured by a suitable bolt12, as in Figure 3 especially, in one of the series of apertures 10, depending upon the length of stroke desired. Plates 13, or their equivalents as in i Figure 4, may be placed onopposing sides of the pitman 7, to afford proper protection against frictional wear. j

Now, power supplied by the motor 11i to rotate the wheel 6, is also imparted to the drilling drum 15, likewise in transporting the machine from place to place. A line 16 is secured to the drum 15, about a sheave 17 situated upon the shaft 5 at the rear of the machine, thence about` a sheave 18 Von the spudding arm il, after which it passes over a sheave 19 in the head of the mast 1. A small roller or sheave 2O is mounted adjacent the base of the mast as shown, and receives the liney 16, after which the latter ispassed about a sheave 21 in the temper screw 22, depending from the walking beam 2, thence into the well. Through such an assembly, it is apparent that many stroke adjustments may be obtained, to effect the movement of either the walking beam or spudding arms, the latter being adjusted by moving the lower pivotal point of the arm 7 along the apertures 9 in the arm 8, and while this adjustment maj7 afiect the stroke of the walking beam 2, the pivotal point ot the arm ll may be moved to a higher point in the apertures lO in the arm 7 to overcome the reduced stroke length resulting from the former adjustment. In addition to the described adjustments, the usual stroke adjustment through the temper screw 22.1emains unaltered.

The added advantage in this long stroke attachment is apparent in that positive control of the lines as maintained at all times, the line being lengthened as required by Yro- -tating the drum 15 to plaj7 oti' b v releasing the brake on the-drum, and the surplus assumed when proper depth is attained b v the action of the spuddmg arms l.

In jarring operations, the brake o'f' the drum l5 may be released to permit jars attached'to'the end ot' the line le; to tall into the well, and likewise in this regard, considerable saving in time and expense is realized in repeated jarring operations l to the-extended long stroke.

It should be understood that trie invenion has been described as including all ot tie elements set forth in the appended claims, but that certain changes and modifications 'may be resorted to without departingl from the spirit or-intent ot the invention.`

l. The combination including with the walkingbeam and spudding arm ot a combination drilling and clean-out machine; a pitman connected t0 said spudding arm and to the power wheel of said machine7 having aperturesV alined therein, a second Vpitman having its upper endseeured tosaid wall*- ing beam; and means to permit pivotal engagement of the lower end of said latter pitmanwith a selected one ot theapertures ot said first pitman, to alter the stroke length of said walkingbeam.

2. The combination including with the walking beam and spudding arms oi a portabley drilling and clean-out machine; aperlured arms having adjustable pivotal-engagement along the radius ot' the power wheel ot' said machine and pivotallv secured to said spuddingarnis to impart rocking movement to'said latter' element: a second arm depending'rfrom the end ot said walking beam; and meanson thelowerend ot said latter' arm to permit ot pivotal securement ina selected one of'the apertures in said iirst arm, in accordance with the required distance of travel of said walking beam.

In a stroke length adjustment for the walking beam and spudding arms of a combination drilling and clean-out machine; a pitman dctaeliably connected to the power wheel of said machine and to said spudding arms to impart motion thereto; said pitman provided witha multiplicitjv of spaced apertures; a second pitman arranged to have one of its ends secured to said walking beam. and means to pivotallv mount its lower end to a selected one of the apertures ot said first pitman. to extend motion to .said walking beam.

el. In a stroke length adjustment Yfor the walking beam and spudding arms of acombination drilling and clean-out machineyan apertured member arranged to communicate motion to said .spudding arms trom'the power wheel of said machine: an arm pivotally secured to said walking beam and to said first member and arranged to transmit the motion ot said member to said walking beam, and means to alter the'connettions of said arms to increase or decrease the stroke length oi said walking beam and spudding arms.

5. In a stroke length adjustn'ient tor the walking beam and spuddingl arms of a drilling and clean-out machine; means'to impart co-ordinate rocking motion to said elements. said means including an arm pivoted to sai-u spudding arms and in the radius of the power wheel of said machine: a second arm pivoted intermediate the enos of said lirst arm, and means to move the second arm with respect to its pivotal engagements with said iirst arm to alter the stroke of said walking beams.

G. In a combination drilling and cleanout machine a stroke length adjustment it'or the valking beam and spudding arms thereof including a pair ot' arms arranged to impart rocking motion to said elements. one, of which is detachablv pivited in the radius of the power wheel of said machine and to said spudding arms` the other or" said arms arranged to be pivote-d intermediate the ends of said iirst arm to extend the motion thereof to said walking beam. and means to move said pivotal engagement to predetermined points along the length et said first arm to increase or decrease the etent ot motion iinparted to said walking beam.

In testimony whereot' I aliix mv signature.

HARRY A. CLA RK. 

